BARTON COUNTY —When Governor Laura Kelly announced her statewide mask order in early July, more than 90 of the state’s 105 counties opted out of the mandate thanks to a new state law that allowed local leaders to follow or discard Kelly’s pandemic-related executive orders.
Law enforcement agencies including the Barton County Sheriff's Office said the mandate was unenforceable since it was a civil issue and not a criminal issue.
But now that both retail giants Walmart and Kroger and have announced new mask requirements that begin next week, Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir says that has changed the scenario for law enforcement.
“If you go into one of these businesses and they ask you to wear a mask and you say no and they tell you that you cannot come in, that is their right,” Bellendir says. “If you are told to leave and don't, then you have crossed into the criminal world of criminal trespass. Then you will have a problem with law enforcement.”
Bellendir has heard plenty from both sides of the mask issue, an issue that won't be going away anytime soon.
“This who mask issue has become politicized on both sides of the aisle,” Bellindir added. “It has become confusing because both sides are using the same data to make their arguments. It's going to be a balancing act for the next several months.”
Walmart's mask requirement begins on Monday July 20 while shoppers at Kroger stores nationwide that includes Dillons stores in the midwest begins next Wednesday July 22